She pushed him onto his back. “You could try the truth.”
His arms came around her and he pulled her on top of him. “Which is?”
When their bodies met, her breath caught in her throat. “You’re not nearly as alone in this world as you think.”
“I don’t want to be alone right now.”
She wasn’t sure they were talking about the same thing, but at that moment it didn’t matter. He could stay.
Chapter Fifteen
Some days being unlucky was a total bitch.
Callen had that thought often, but it really struck him as he and Declan came out of the coffee shop and ran right into the most un-dynamic duo ever, Marc Baron and Chief Darber. They stood on the sidewalk, staring across the street into the park at something only they could see. Probably some fun they wanted to stamp out.
Just when Callen felt good about life. Grace had finally said yes and he had the engagement ring for her in his pocket and he was ready to push Declan into asking Leah . . . and this happened.
Declan nodded a hello as he passed. “Marc.”
“Go to hell.” Marc added a few choice words after those.
Normally Declan kept going, ignored and moved on, but this time he stopped. Turning around he stared at the older man, meeting him glare for glare. “I see you’re as charming as ever this afternoon.”
Marc crumbled a piece of paper in his hand. “And I hear you have that FBI agent fooled.”
“He’s not an agent.” The chief added that little gem.
Callen wanted to punch the guy or at least tell him to fucking retire because he sucked at his job. He didn’t do either. Darber had been looking for a reason to throw him in jail since he came to town. Callen refused to hand him one. Not when he had better things to do with his nights now, and the arrest would only make Marc happy.
Before Callen could explain or argue—hell, maybe even defend Walker, Declan jumped in. “Yes, he is.”
“He was fired.” Marc mumbled something unintelligible. “Good thing, too, because I was about to turn him in.”
Callen had no idea what that meant and didn’t care. “He’s on leave.”
“The guy’s is a liar.” Marc shook his head. “No wonder he’s on your side. I mean, he even moved into my house, right?”
“Your house?” Declan asked in a voice a few notches too quiet and calm.
Marc wouldn’t let this go. He lost Shadow Hill years ago after Charlie scammed the town. Charlie stole the town’s assets and the personal assets of many people who lived there, Marc included. “It hasn’t been your house for a very long time,” Callen pointed out.
The chief moved to stand between Declan and Marc, put some distance between them, and Callen was grateful. The only thing he wanted less than to be arrested was to watch Declan get that treatment.
Chief Darber motioned toward the diner down the street. “Your FBI buddy was in there this morning and insisted there was no cause to arrest any of you and told Marc if he kept up the harassment he’d be arrested.”
Callen appreciated the support but almost laughed at the idea. “By you?”
“Of course not. It was an empty threat,” Darber said, clearly missing the sarcasm.
So Callen tried again. “Because you’d never turn your back on your old friend. No matter what a lying bastard he is.”
Marc lunged and the chief stepped in front of him. But all of his wrath was saved for Callen. “Watch it.”
Declan put a restraining arm across Callen’s chest and pushed him back. “We’re done.”
Not satisfied to let it go, Marc got right back in Declan’s face. “Leah is going to wake up one day and see the mistake she’s made in being with you.”
“I’ll let her know you said hello.” And Declan kept walking.
“You can both go to hell.”
Callen got the distinct impression the Marc Baron situation amounted to just that for Declan.
***
Walker stepped into the kitchen in time to see Declan balance his fists on the butcher block island and stare at it as if he planned to rip it in two. “I fucking hate that guy.”
Callen glanced up from his seat at the table. “Not you.”
“That’s a relief.” Not sure whether to stay or go, Walker let his curiosity rule. He suspected he knew the subject of Declan’s fury. Walker had a taste of it this morning, and he didn’t have a vested interest in anyone with the last name of Baron.
“This is unbelievable.” Declan started pacing. “I’ve been to war. I’ve lived through poverty and Charlie’s bullshit, but Marc Baron is the one person on this planet I truly hate.”
Yeah, just as Walker thought. Still, having details might help. He leaned over to Callen. “What exactly happened?”
“A run-in downtown.” Callen’s focus never shifted from Declan. He watched his brother—their brother—with concerned, almost paternal eyes.
Declan’s head snapped up. “And I’m not alone. Apparently you had a Marc sighting of your own this morning.”
News sure did travel fast in this town. An old guy yells at you over bacon and everyone talked about it. “He got in my face before I had my coffee. Bad move.”
Callen’s attention shifted then. “I think Declan is referring to how you stuck up for us. For the family.”
“Let’s not get carried away.” Thinking back to what he said and the law-and-order voice he used to say it, Walker had to admit that did happen.
“You are a stubborn ass.” Callen shook his head. “Won’t even take a compliment.”
Declan scoffed. “Sound like anyone you know?”
The rage had blinded him. It hit like a shot in the side and he came out swinging. Marc Baron had gone off, called Declan names and referred to Callen as an ex-con, something Walker knew he wasn’t, and that was it. Already on probation with a side of mandatory temporary leave at work, Walker didn’t think his situation could get much worse, but Marc might try to test that theory.
Walker couldn’t really explain why the words hit him so hard or when he’d started feeling any sort of kinship toward Declan, Beck and Callen, but he had. A subtle shift. A realization that while he didn’t understand so much of what happened to make his life to date so different from theirs, they actually didn’t suck. Mallory cared about them and maybe that opened the door for him to let go of his hate.
They never acted they way he anticipated anyway. It started with the invitation to stay at Shadow Hill and continued with every meal and conversation in the hallway or over the newspaper. Declan and Callen could have—by rights should have—laughed when he explained Mallory’s sex ultimatum. Instead they offered help.
Not really in the mood for a brotherly battle since he still had no idea how those were supposed to go, Walker tried to turn the conversation to a topic that did interest him. Friendly advice.
He looked over at Declan who now stood at the head of the table with the back of the chair in a white-knuckle-crunching grip. “Here’s a thought. Why don’t you just ignore the guy? He spouts off and as far as I can see people stop listening.”
Walker had known guys like Marc Baron his entire life. Gigantic asshole blowhards. People who led with threats and hid when the real trouble came. He talked about the importance of family yet turned around and put down the Hanovers. A total hypocrite. He insisted Callen was evil yet refused to welcome his own daughter into his house.
That was some fucked-up shit.
Declan’s grip tightened. “The guy in question always has the police chief with him.”
“So?” Walker was even less impressed with Chief Darber. The other members of the force and the county sheriff all seemed competent. Darber was stuck in some Good Ol’ Boy nightmare that didn’t interest Walker and gave all areas of law enforcement a bad name.
“I don’t give a shit what he says about me.” Declan pulled out the chair, ignoring the scratching sound as he pulled it across the hardwood floor and sat down. “It’s the stuff
he says about his own daughter and how he treats her, because she had the nerve to love me. It’s fucking sick.”
Walker tried to imagine what he would do if someone took a shot at Mallory. The response would likely involve bloodshed. “From the short amount of time I spent with this Marc guy over the last few months I can say he’s a dick.”
Callen nodded. “He’s unhinged.”
“Nah. I’ve dealt with that type on the job and he’s doesn’t fit.” It was unfair to group people with valid mental health issues with the guy who confronted him this morning. “Marc Baron is a manipulative SOB. He is well aware of what he’s doing.”
“Which is?” Rather than debating the point, Callen sounded genuinely interested in figuring it all out.
Walker recognized concern when he saw it. He even had to admit to a bit of worry of his own when it came to Declan’s dealings with the man who would likely be his future father-in-law. Not that Walker thought Declan would go after the older man. The opposite. Walker worried Marc would go that one step too far then Leah or Callen would probably kill him.
“Pissing Declan off.” Walker knew he was right. “That’s Marc’s goal here. That and trying in his own lame way to force Leah to come back to him on his weird terms.”
The wind went out of Declan and his shoulders fell. “That sounds about right.”
“He’s not sick. Not in the way I think of those issues.” Walker wanted that to be clear. Marc didn’t need treatment. He needed to be on a watch list for trouble.
Callen hesitated but he finally got out his comment. “But he could be dangerous.”
“He could go off, sure. Anyone can.” Walker didn’t want to oversell the idea that Declan was completely safe, because Walker knew that wasn’t true, but he didn’t want to raise an unnecessary alarm either. “But this is about hate. I’m guessing there’s guilt mixed in there somewhere.” Walker stopped while Declan and Callen exchanged a look. “And from the way you two are acting I’m thinking I’m right.”
“He’s not innocent,” Declan said.
That really wasn’t the right word, but Walker didn’t want to get picky. Not without Beck around for back-up. “Who is?”
Callen leaned back in his chair. The expression said he was sizing Walker up. “You’re kind of likeable when you want to be.”
Time to shut that down. “That makes one of us.”
“And like that my goodwill is gone again.” But Callen laughed as he said it.
Despite everything, Walker really did want to help. “Look, my point is Marc says the shit he does to inflict the greatest amount of emotional damage. He doesn’t just call and yell at Leah. He makes a public scene.”
Declan nodded. “He blocked her number.”
“Classy guy, but it’s not a surprise.” Walker was starting to understand why Leah came off so defensive. When your own father didn’t have your back, you built shields. Walker knew that better than anyone. “Hurting her is his goal. It’s probably worked for him in the past and he’s likely shocked it’s not now.”
“The estrangement is rough on her.”
The sound of Declan’s voice, both angry and lost as to how to fix the situation, chipped away at another piece of the wall Walker had built against this family. Soon all of his defenses would be gone. “Which just means you should ignore him completely.”
“Hard to do when I’m with his daughter.”
“It’s actually easy. Marry her.” Walker didn’t see what was so difficult about that. Declan was the marrying kind, and anyone who stood in the same room with him and Leah for more than ten minutes knew whatever they had shot well past dating.
Declan looked to Callen, probably for reinforcements.
Callen just threw up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I agree.”
“Have you not been listening?” Declan tapped his finger against the table as he talked. “Marc is the issue.”
The way Walker saw it, Declan had the whole thing backwards. “He is counting on you to hold off until his breach with Leah is resolved. You’re giving him the ammunition to keep you guys from moving forward.”
“We’re together.”
“But you want more. You want to marry her.” Callen switched his gaze from Declan to Walker. “You know, maybe it won’t be so bad having another lawyer in the family after all.”
Declan tapped his finger one more time. “Marc is going to make her choose.”
“Hasn’t she already done that?” Talk about missing a major clue. Walker hadn’t needed any training for this one. And for a smart guy, Declan was sliding through this on his ass. “She lives here. She’s with you, man. Seems to me she’s done her part. Now it’s your turn.”
Callen stood up, but not before pointing at Walker. “Listen to the FBI man.”
Calling him Walker was fine. “I think we can find another pet name for me.”
Callen laughed. “And I think we’re growing on you.”
***
An hour later Walker stood on the back porch and stared out into the yard. The fall filled in the horizon with bursts of fading color. The trees were still thick with leaves and the rain left the lawn a vibrant green.
He lived in a city filled with concrete. There were beautiful parks, but his life consisted of traveling to and from work, to and from assignments. To and from the gym. Concrete box to concrete box. Not exactly a lot of fresh air in that life.
That’s part of the reason he loved this part of Oregon, nestled between the ocean and the forest. It almost made him wish he could take the interest in the property.
Footsteps sounded behind him. He tensed until he smelled the soft scent of flowers. He turned, expecting to see Grace, but Kim walked toward him.
She didn’t stop until she stood next to him. “You did a good thing in there.”
“You overheard?”
“I was in the family room listening in.” She shrugged. “Mother’s prerogative, but sometimes it does backfire and you hear things you definitely don’t need to hear about your grown sons’ lives.”
There was something oddly comforting about standing next to her. She didn’t try to force him into accepting her. She didn’t lecture or try to defend. She remained proud and quiet. He didn’t totally understand her, but he reluctantly liked her.
“Declan likes to . . .” She glanced up at him. “What would you call it?”
There were a lot of terms that applied. He went with the closest. With how he thought of Declan. “De-escalate conflict.”
She smiled. “Right.”
“I can see that.” Declan struck Walker as solid. Leah battled him at the beginning of their relationship, assuming Declan was a Charlie clone because that’s what her idiot father taught her to believe. But Declan won her over. “Probably made him successful in the military.”
“Those times were hard on him.”
Walker knew from his many Hanover files that Declan had been deployed. Fought in war. “I’m sure.”
“And now he’s trying to figure out a way to make things easier for Leah.”
Walker wondered if the men in this family would benefit from a lesson or two in strength from the women. “She strikes me as pretty tough.”
“Sure, but no one wants to see someone they love in pain.”
Walker wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so he pivoted. “Marc Baron is not going to wake up one day and suddenly accept Declan.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve tried talking to the man. Even used the ‘we’ve known each other for years’ speech.” She crossed her arms and pulled her jacket tighter around her.
“Here.” Walker stripped off his jacket and rested it on her shoulders.
“That’s very sweet of you.”
The woman weighed almost nothing. He’d have all of the Hanovers and Tom on his ass if she got sick. “No success with Marc, I assume.”
“Lots of yelling.”
“That seems to be his go-to move.”
She brushed her hair out of her eye
s. “I just hope Declan takes your advice.”
Wait a second. If shit went bad he’d be blamed, and he had enough issues without adding that. “I didn’t really—”
“He deserves to be happy. So does Leah.” Kim turned to face him then. “So do you.”
“I’m fine.” He said it before she finished her sentence.
“Do you have any idea how often you say that?”
Yeah, he needed to work on that. The comment had become a knee-jerk response, and more than one person in the house had commented on it. “Could be too much, but it’s true.”
She scanned the yard. “Then what are you doing here?”
It didn’t sound like a shot but he wasn’t sure. “What?”
“Your girlfriend is across town.”
Matchmaking. That made more sense than her being angry and rude. “It’s complicated.”
Jesus, that sounded like a line from a bad movie. He wanted to call it back the minute he said it.
“Love always is.”
There were things he wanted to ask her. Things he didn’t have a right to know but they tweaked him. “I can’t imagine what it was like to be married to Charlie.”
“I can tell you.”
That sounded wrong and invasive. He didn’t want to drag her back to that time. “There’s no need.”
“Fun for a short time, then more awful than I could have imagined growing up in my small town.” She shook her head. “That charm that served him so well in cons also helped get him wives.”
“Many of them.”
“A few didn’t even know he had children.” She winced. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” That time he meant it. He knew she wasn’t trying to put him in his place or knock him down.
The concern still lingered in her eyes. “Is it?”
Seeing her now he realized he’d read her wrong for all those years. He’d assumed she was part of the con. He couldn’t understand, even though she was young, how she didn’t know who she married.
He’d expected her to be cold and calculating. But the woman in front of him matched the one in the files—genuine and in a form of emotional recovery.
As far as anyone tracking money could tell, Charlie never paid support. He left her poor and alone with three children. And when he swept back into town to pick up Callen, Charlie left her broken. It took years before she got her life together and somehow managed to get into school and get a degree so she could teach.
Too Far Gone Page 16
